Updated October 13, 2026
To look good in photos: push your face slightly forward and tip your chin down to avoid a double chin, think of something that made you laugh, avoid direct overhead light, loosen your shoulders and push them back, and wear clothes you feel confident in. I’m Katie Donnelly, a Paris photographer, and these are the tips I give everybody.
What You’ll Find in This Blog:
Because we get by with a little help from our friends.. right? This one is for EVERYBODY on how to look better in photos!
1. Avoid the Double Chin: Do the Turtle
First things first – the old double chin issue. What did we do to deserve its sneaky and mean attacks (and just how is that I always seem to open the front facing camera when I’m looking at my phone)?
Here’s how to avoid it: don’t sink backwards. Most people tend to pull their faces in when they’re photographed, so you have to do the exact opposite! Do the turtle – elongate your neck and push your face forward a bit while tipping your chin slightly down.
1/800 sec at f / 2.2, ISO 100
2. Smile Naturally
Smiling in photos, seems like it should be a no brainer, right? Some of us have a hard time smiling naturally though, so just think about something that made you laugh recently.
1/250 sec at f / 2.8, ISO 320
3. Stop Blinking in Photos
If you have a tendency to blink in pictures, close your eyes just before the photo is taken and open them when the camera clicks.
4. Study the Photos You Like of Yourself
Study your previous pictures where you like the way you look: is there a pattern? is there a certain angle you like yourself in?
1/1600 sec at f / 1.6, ISO 100
5. Avoid Direct Overhead Light
Avoid standing under a direct overhead light: it can cause weird shadows on your face and wrinkles that aren’t even there (I promise, they’re not there!)
6. Loosen Your Shoulders and Stand Tall
Loosen your shoulders and push them backwards: straightening your back makes you look slimmer and taller.
7. Wear the Right Clothes
Wear the right clothes: if you are a big pattern fan, be careful what to wear, for example horizontal stripes make you mostly bigger and wider. If you want to look thinner, wear darker clothes but the most important rule is to wear clothes you’re confident in!
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
For outfit help, read how to choose the perfect outfits for your photo session and what to wear for a Paris photoshoot, and see my favorite pieces on ShopMy.
Next time someone points a camera your way you’ll know just how to ensure that it’s a winner! Share your photos with me over on Instagram in #TheAuthenticPortrait series, a series for learning and growing in photography. Don’t forget to tag your photos with #TheAuthenticPortrait!
This lesson is part of The Authentic Portrait: A Parent’s Guide to Documenting Childhood, my photography guide for parents who want to learn the basics and take better photos of their kids, without spending hours and hours taking classes. I am working on a new edition of the guide. Until it is ready, you can read every lesson in The Authentic Portrait series.
More help: how to look and feel confident during a photoshoot, how to do your makeup for a photoshoot, and how to pose families naturally.
Nervous in front of the camera?
Most of our clients are. We show you how to pose, then let things unfold naturally. Sessions with our English-speaking team in Paris start at €150.
Or first see how a Paris photoshoot with us works.
Questions About Looking Good in Photos
Do the turtle: elongate your neck and push your face forward a bit while tipping your chin slightly down. Most people pull their faces in when photographed, so do the opposite.
Think about something that made you laugh recently.
Close your eyes just before the photo is taken and open them when the camera clicks.
Clothes you are confident in. Be careful with big patterns: horizontal stripes tend to make you look wider, and darker clothes are slimming.
Loosen your shoulders and push them backwards. Straightening your back makes you look slimmer and taller.
“I’ve never done a photoshoot and she walked me through the poses and really made me feel comfortable. And within a few hours you’re viewing your photos and picking which ones to keep.”
Amanda B.
5-star Google review
About the author
Katie Donnelly, Paris Photographer
Katie Donnelly is an American photographer who opened her Paris studio in 2013 and was voted Best Portrait Photographer in Paris in 2017. She and her English-speaking team photograph families, couples and solo travelers at sunrise, so visitors go home with relaxed, real portraits instead of rushed selfies. Meet Katie and the team.
Ready to Book Your Paris Photoshoot?
Next time someone points a camera your way, make it one of ours.
- When: Mornings, just after sunrise, when the city is quiet
- Who: Families, couples, engagements and proposals, and solo travelers, with an English-speaking team
- Your photos: Viewed the same day at our studio in Saint-Germain-des-Prés
- Session fee: From €150. Inquire for our full price list.
Tell us your dates and we will help you plan the rest.
Or first see how a Paris photoshoot with us works.
